For general application information relevant to all professions, see Get Licensed.

Initial Licensure

Education Overview

Applicants most hold either a) a bachelor's degree from a four-year land surveying curriculum that meets the statutory requirements in place at the time of graduation, or b) a bachelor's curriculum that includes 22 semester credits in land surveying. Applicants may apply to sit early (prior to graduation) for the FS Exam under certain circumstances.

Experience Overview

Applicants for the PS Exam and the Minnesota Land Surveying Exam (MNLS)—both of which are required for licensure in Minnesota—must provide evidence that they meet the qualifying experience requirements.

Qualifying experience consists of varied, progressive, practical experience at land surveying work. How much experience you need depends upon the type of education you earned. See MN Rule 1800.3505 Subp. 3 for details.

Use the Employment History and Experience (EHE) form, which is part of the Application Form packet. Customize and send a copy to every supervisor verifying your experience. The completed form must be sent by the supervisor directly to the Board.

Examination Overview

In most instances, applicants must first pass the FS Exam and then the PS and MNLS Exams to be considered for licensure.

Examination Application Packets

These application packets provide a wealth of information regarding the application process, including links to Minnesota Rules and relevant associated websites (such as NCEES). We encourage you to thoroughly review the instructions and the forms.

Exam Appli­cation Deadlines

The FS and PS exams are computer based and administered year-round. There is therefore no application deadline. Once your application is approved, you have 12 months in which to register with NCEES and take the exam before your application expires.

The MNLS is paper-based and administered by the Board three times each year from a location in St. Paul. You apply for a particular administration of the exam and must re-apply if you do not then sit on that particular date.

Examination Costs

*If you apply at the same time for both the PS and MNLS exams, a single fee of $75 covers both applications.

**Once your application for the MNLS is approved, you will receive location, schedule, and other details for this exam by mail. You will need to submit the exam fee by the deadline stated in that approval letter. You will also want to review the MNLS Candidate Handbook (see Additional Resources below).

Next Steps After the Exams

Need to Retake an Exam?

After Passing the FS Exam

The Board will officially notify you by mail once you pass the FS Exam. If you have already provided the Board with an official (sealed, sent directly from the institution) copy of your final transcript(s), the Board will include your Land Surveyor-in-Training (LSIT) number with your notification. If you sat prior to graduation and so submitted an unofficial transcript with your FS application, note that the Board will not issue an LSIT number until they receive the required transcript(s).

Relevant Links

Licensure by Comity (Reciprocity) or EEE

If you already hold a license in another jurisdiction or took the required exams in another jurisdiction, use the form below to apply for a license in Minnesota. There are two means by which to apply; both use this same form—you select your choice on the form.

Comity applications are reviewed based on the education, examination and experience requirements that
were in place in Minnesota at the time of your original licensure. (For example: If you were originally licensed in 1998, your credentials will be evaluated based on the education, examination and experience requirements that were in place in Minnesota in 1998). Your required experience must have been obtained prior to passing the PS exam and it must be verified by whomever was your supervisor at that time.

EEE (Education, Examination, and Experience) applications are reviewed based on licensure requirements currently in place in Minnesota. This application method is for those who did not obtain all of their experience prior to passing the PS exam or for those who are unable to obtain verification of the experience that was obtained prior to the exam. Applicants may submit verified experience that was obtained after passing the PS exam to meet the minimum experience requirement.

To document experience, you can either submit an NCEES Record containing your verified experience or use the Employment History and Experience (EHE) form, which is part of the PS Comity Application Form packet.

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Statutes & Rules

The Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design is an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer. The Board does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, public assistance, age, sexual orientation, or membership on local human rights commission.